PH sensitive surgical tool

Abstract

Embodiments include methods, systems, and apparatus for identification, detection, and removal of cancerous cells from a patient. The apparatus includes an apparatus handle. The apparatus also includes a display including a pH measurement result. The apparatus also includes an apparatus tip including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of sensing surfaces is connected to a base of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device. The BJT device further includes a collector and an emitter. The apparatus also includes automation circuitry including a processing unit in communication with the apparatus tip and the display. The plurality of sensing surfaces includes a conducting material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for identification and removal of cancerous tissue, comprising:
 placing an apparatus for removal of cancerous cells in contact with an extracellular medium associated with a tissue of interest on a patient, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a display; 
 an apparatus tip comprising an array of bipolar junction transistor-pH (BJT-pH) sensors, the apparatus tip comprising a length of 2 to 10 mm and a width of 2 to 10 mm, each BJT-pH sensor comprising:
 a sensing surface positioned on a surface of an oxide layer, the sensing surface having a diameter of 5 to 15 micrometers; 
 a BJT base; and 
 a conductive line embedded in the oxide layer, the conductive line positioned between a bottom surface of the sensing surface and a top surface of the BJT base; and 
 
 automation circuitry comprising a processing unit in communication with the apparatus tip and the display; 
 
 measuring a local pH of the extracellular medium with the apparatus; 
 determining in real-time a boundary of a cancerous region, wherein the boundary comprises spatial data at a spatial resolution defined by the array of BJT-pH sensors, wherein an area of the sensing surface is proportional to the spatial resolution; and 
 based upon a determination that the local pH is acidic, excising the tissue of interest within the cancerous region. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the BJT-pH sensors further comprise:
 a reference electrode positioned on a surface of the oxide layer; 
 a collector; and 
 an emitter on the top surface of the BJT base. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein measuring the local pH of the extracellular medium further comprises:
 applying zero voltage to the collector; 
 applying zero voltage to the reference electrode; 
 applying a voltage to the emitter; and 
 measuring a collector current from the collector. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automation circuitry is configured to calibrate the BJT-pH sensors and to measure pH in real-time.